With a target of four medals they set for themselves, Botswana Karate team outdid itself and managed to grab seven in Yaounde, Cameroon in the just ended Union Federation of Africa Karate (UFAK) Cup.
The team consisted of nine karateka ÔÇô one female and eight males. They scooped two gold medals, two silver medals and three bronze medals.
Team kata which was made up of Sensei Ofentse Bakwadi, Phillipe Revaka and Mahommad Ali Hussain got a gold medal defeating Cameroon.
Team coach Sensei Otto Tata noted that in 2003 they missed the gold medal in the All Africa Games in Nigeria. “The first day I could not believe it seeing the Gold medals,” adding that they never gave up hence they won.
Sensei Ofentse Bakwadi also brought home a gold medal in the male individual kata category. Thabang Setshego obtained a silver medal in the male individual kumite Under60kg.
The only lady in the team Lame Hetanang scooped a silver medal for the female individual kumite Under-50kg.
Oratile Caiphus got a bronze medal for the male individual kumite 75kg, while Revaka obtained a bronze medal for the 16 to 17 years individual kata and bronze for the 16 to 17 years individual kumite.
Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) chairperson Sensei Tshepho Bathai noted a lot of improvement in the team.
Team Kumite took fourth position after Ofentse was injured and the team was forced to field four players.
Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC) official Falcon Sedimo: “Let us improve to see more ladies in karate; take it one step at a time and we will get there.”
